In 1838, Elisha Johnson, a well known engineer and one of Rochester's leading businessmen became Rochester's fifth Mayor.

In this same year, he also was given the contract to build the section of the Genesee Valley canal known as "the Nine Mile Level". Inluded in this section, was the "Tunnel Section".

The plans were to dig a tunnel for the canal to pass thru a point of solid rock which jutted out along the Genesee River gorge, just north of the Middle Falls. This tunnel was to be 20ft high, 27ft wide, and 1082ft long. After completeing the Deep Cut, and moving on to the Tunnel section, Johnson decided he wished to have his family close by, as he had been living near the work being done.

In 1840, he decided to build a home on top of the outcropping which was being tunneled through. He built a rustic lodge, which was located almost 100ft directly above the path of the tunnel. He named it Hornby Lodge, after William Hornby, an English landowner who owned all of the Cottinger Tract of land.

In 1842, work was halted due to lack of funds, and high maintenance requirements. In 1848, work on the canal and tunnel was resumed, but soon after tunnel collapses and quicksand were encountered, ending the work on the tunnel.
Work had only progressed to a length of 400ft.

Plans were then made to blast much of the top of the cliff away, and create a ledge which would carry the canal around the point.

The lodge had been abandoned since 1844 or 45, and in 1849, the blasting away of the cliff did so much damage to the lodge, that it was razed, and all traces of the lodge and immediate surroundings are vanished.

The cache is located near the top of the Genesee gorge where the lodge once stood. It has a commanding view of much of the gorge just below the Middle Falls, Glen Iris, the Upper Falls, and the current railroad trestle above the Upper Falls.

From here, the trail up to the cache area can be found by going past the pavilion, and is located just south of the drinking fountain. I suggest following the trail, rather than bushwacking straight to the cache. The climb is a little steeper, but the view is well worth it. Just be careful along the edge.

23 Apr 2008 by
Cracker7M(Finds: 35 Score: 168.5) (Hidden: 5 Score: 22)Open Log:Unrestricted
This cache has been archived. Sorry for those who went looking with te old coords. Thought I had posted a log here.
Sorry.

19 Apr 2008 by
MapLady(Finds: 35 Score: 131) (Hidden: 6 Score: 24)Open Log:Personal use only
I went to the coordinates posted on this Navicache page and didn't find any cache. It appears to have been changed?? But it was a nice walk and a great view from the other side of the river than I was at earlier in the afternoon.

08 May 2006 by
Paleoman(Finds: 95 Score: 428) (Hidden: 14 Score: 60)Open Log:Personal use only
Nice location for a cache hide. Enjoyed the walk to the location, this is a favorite place of mine to go hiking. Never realized that a cache was nearby. Not a hard find, but as it beginner it was just what I needed to give me confidence. Let a small deer antler in the cache. Paleoman52

22 Apr 2006 by
HuckleBuckle(Finds: 77 Score: 273.5) (Hidden: 67 Score: 223.5)Open Log:Personal use only
I went to find this one today with Dru and Vargseld. He had found this one previously, but came along for the walk. We saw the Mom's at the cache area as we approached, and the find was made easily.
Nice hide, I TNLNSL, thanks for the cache.
HB

11 Mar 2006 by
Szuchie(Finds: 146 Score: 577) (Hidden: 5 Score: 26)Open Log:Personal use only
(Hey Art! Finally logging this on Navicache since I figured nearly 2 years was enough time to slack...haha...this was a great cache in an awesome spot - it's sad to see it's gone). Now for the log:

Today I was supposed to go up north and play with a group of other fun-loving cachers, but I totally missed the boat on that one (DOH!). So to soothe my melancholy Chicky and I decided to head up to Letchworth and do some hiking on this beautiful Spring-esque day.

This side of Letchworth is still closed, so we parked at the gate and hiked the mile or so round trip in taking in the great sights. Neither of us (why we don't know) have ever seen this side of Letchworth so it was a new and fascinating experience for both of us. Found the trailhead fairly easily, and made for the cache which we found with no problems.

Also took in the sights...and what amazing sights we say. It's great to see the falls and the Glen Iris from this alternate vantage point. Thanks for getting us to this sweet spot, we really enjoyed it!

~Szuchie

23 May 2005 by
motionsmiley(Finds: 71 Score: 338) (Hidden: 0 Score: 0)Open Log:Personal use only
Hiked up from the greenway after finding Low and Behold. Wrong way to go. Never been in this area of park. The view is great. Smiley found this one right away. Thanks for the hide.

16 Oct 2004 by
Blackpete(Finds: 406 Score: 1774) (Hidden: 19 Score: 73)Open Log:Personal use only
Drove to the south end of the park to see the leaves and the falls during the fall picnic. Decided to find this cache. Thanks for the info and the nice view.

06 Jun 2004 by
redpower01(Finds: 1 Score: 4.5) (Hidden: 0 Score: 0)Open Log:Non-commercial use only
NICE SHORT CACHE!
My wife and I and 3 kids (1 MINE 2 OF MY BROTHERS) found this one today, third cache in the park for the day. WE, just like most others according to the log book, were fooled by the "suspicious looking spot" but did find it with no problem. Took "Thirsty fish" travel bug, took nothing else left nothing.
CACHE ON!

08 Nov 2003 by
Harv and Donna(Finds: 152 Score: 707) (Hidden: 0 Score: 0)Open Log:Personal use only
2nd of 2 Finds Today 8 Nov 03 Found at 1:40 PM
Since I wasn’t having any luck deer hunting thought I would see if I could find a couple of caches. Such a fabulous day to be out in the woods caching and Cracker you sure picked a great place to hide one. Bushwhacked straight to the cache and then followed the trail back. Loved the views from the trail. Oh, I also spooked a deer on the way back. The cache coordinates were dead on but it still took me 20 minutes to find it, very well hide for sure. TN/LN but this is a well stocked cache with some good stuff. Thanks Cracker for a reason to be in this wonderful place.
Harv & Donna (without Donna) Dansville, NY

19 Oct 2003 by
SueShe(Finds: 54 Score: 226) (Hidden: 0 Score: 0)Open Log:Personal use only
Yikes! I forgot to post this (sorry, Cracker), I was cleaning my desk and found the print-out. Enjoyed the hike and the view of the river was great. She actually was the huckler, I came in last place (wah!). The bat cave was cool...i wonder what that place would look like after sunset?